Hello again! This morning we're back on RRR reporting on everything happening this month in the local craft and design scene. Ramona is in recovery mode after successfully wrangling hundreds (thousands ?) of cakes, pies, pickles, knitting, ceramics, hats, scarves, quilts, toys, scones, photos, paintings, kimchi and crochet works made by an equally large number of avid makers in her first Royal Melbourne Show. As the head cheese of the Art, Craft and Cookery Pavillion she put in a herculean effort getting this show on the road and it was AMAZING! We'll be giving her three cheers on air as well as diving deep into what went on behind the scenes of this massive event.

EXHIBITIONS

There are a few cracking shows opening up this month, we'll give you a brief run down here, but will be giving more detailed reviews over the coming weeks now that we're back in the blogging saddle and a little less inundated with day job action.

JAM EVERY OTHER DAY - Georgia Harvey and Dawn Vachon.

We love the idea of call and response crafting and in this new group of works, Harvey and Vachon jammed for 6 months on alternate days passing ideas back and forth, through a process of exchange, each handing the other material to work with, be influenced by, rebuff or outright poach – all the while pondering the nature of influence and the pervasive artistic drive for originality. Independently these two make great work, we can't wait to see what they've done together.

Tinning Street Gallery Brunswick October 6-16

ANIMAL - Troy Emery, Vipoo Srivilasa, Ramesh Nithiyendran.

We could go on and on about this one, but you just need to know that Troy and Vipoo are in it. And you should go. Because they are brilliant.

Nicholas Project, Nicholas Building. Melbourne October 7-22.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE - Julie Burleigh, Curated by Sophia Cai

In this latest exhibition by ceramic artist Julie Burleigh she channels the works of modern comic royalty (including the gloriously morose Daniel Clowes) into miniature clay vignettes that speak to the chaos/order/peace/disharmony inherent in domestic interiors. Both recognisable and abstract these seemingly 'empty' spaces are full to the brim with barely concealed emotion. Looking at these works its almost impossible not to imagine the lives of the inhabitants that live beyond the frames of these ceramic snapshots.

Dolls House Gallery, West Preston. October 6-30.

NOT WOW - Kirsten Perry.

Once again Kirsten Perry is back with a collection of objects that no doubt will blow our minds and empty our bank balances. This exhibition is all about the materials, and Kirsten's sensitivity and ambition in pushing her materials into ambitious and unexpected directions is one of our most loved aspects of her practice. Accordion pleated clay cups, hand carved ceramic woodgrain, bubbly heavy cast silver and embossed copper collide in brilliantly anthromorphic objects. However we couldn't be more eloquent that Kirsten herself when it comes to discussing the concerns that inform this new exhibition...

"Paper can fold. Clay can be squished. Wood can be sawn. It’s pretty obvious and unremarkable but pretty amazing at the same time.As a maker, sometimes materials dominate your ideas and decisions and it’s with a resigned reverence that you obey.On visiting sacred spaces in Australia and Japan, it was the material of the object that really made an impression. A piece of wood, clay, metal, paper, stone or a plant.Somehow nature or the maker was able to translate a message.Those subtle feelings that cannot communicated any other way. Not wow, but something else."

See, Brilliant. and her work is just getting better and better. Absolutely unmissable.

Mr. Kitly, Brunswick. October 14-30.

SOUL MATE - Krista McRae

Before you hit the big time bling of Bulgari at the NGV's ITALIAN JEWELS:BULGARI STYLE make your way over to local jewellery hot spot Pieces of Eight and check out the custom cut precious stone work of Krista McRae. Her collection of over 50 special claw set design rings are gorgeous contemporary interpretations of classic and free form cuts from the solitaire to double and four stone design in diamonds, sapphires, aquamarine and spinet. Some seriously incredible jewels people.

Pieces of Eight Gallery

WHICH WAY DO WE GO - Andrea Shaw

We love the bright coloured confidence of artist Andrea Shaw. Her background in textile design manifest in the all over patterning she has applied in her signature modernist pastel palette on everything from gem cut wooden vases to tiny hand painted earrings, but recently she's moved into large scale wall works with great success. The works within this exhibition are based around the central theme of Global Positioning Systems. How rapidly GPS applications have entered our world and how we take the little blue dot and Google maps for granted.The works aim to explore the overlooked beauty that lies within discovering new places, getting lost, the relationship between man made and natural landscapes and the imagery within the mapping services themselves. Make the effort and cross the river guys!

This cracking group show will highlight the long list of influences in form, function, aesthetics, and conventions of pottery that are currently under investigation by contemporary ceramic artists. Varied outcomes and objects will showcase a pastiche of references from classical kraters to funerary masks, nude figurines and mythological sculptures. A veritable who's who of makers giving you a brilliant breakdown of the ways of modern clay mavens.

Mailbox art space, City. October 5-29.

BAROCOCO - Anna Davern.

A new outing from one of our favourite local jewellers. Anna has a deft touch with up cycled and non-precious materials that shows an incredible skill, historical knowledge and whipsmart sense of humour. Oversized and exaggerated earrings and neckpieces reworked and refashioned from chains of dripping plastic beads using a heat press. A joyous, immediately gratifying play on high and low art, that employs "the color and form of Baroque and the ornate asymmetry and lightheartedness of Rococo". Cant wait!.

Bini Gallery, Collingwood. October 14-18.

WORKSHOPS

So many spaces are ramping up their workshop schedule now that we're out of winter - in particular HANDMAKERS FACTORY in Seddon have a stack of new classes from slow stitching to screen printing and their new 'Craft Club' for adults. There's new things on every week to check out and join. NC4 in Brunswick also have new workshops in sublimation with Anna Davern, Social Media for Creative Businesses with Saskia Erikson and Jewellery casting with wax and cuttlefish all starting in November, but these sell out fast, so if you're interested in getting in make a booking NOW! The SPINNERS AND WEAVERS GUILD in Carlton are also starting their next round of workshop intensives including the fabulous introduction to weaving with Ilka White - well worth checking out if you want to really dig into weaving. They've also got their annual Bazaar on this Saturday and if you want to pick up a bargain - think wool, roving, tools, looms, spindles etc, then join us in the queue this Saturday morning. There are lots more to talk about but I think we may need to dedicate another post later this week to fully cover the breadth of learnable crafts!

MARKETS

We should give you a quick heads up the the next FINDERS KEEPERS MELBOURNE market is about to hit the Royal Exhibition Buildings once again 14-16 October. CRAFT VICTORIA is putting on a whopper Christmas CRAFT HATCH Market with workshop activities and other fun stuff at Thousand Pound Bend and are currently taking bookings for stallholders - this is one NOT to miss people. And, there's a new art and craft market taking place in Bacchus Marsh through the Bacchus Marsh Arts Council. This two day weekend market will be a majorpart of the inaugural Strawberry and Cheery festival (YAY) and they're currently on the hunt for new stallholders. More details makersmarket@bmaci.org.au .

HML BLOG

Interviews, studio visits, open sketchbooks and words of wisdom from all sorts of makers from all around the world, plus news about what we're up to. The curious creatives guide to contemporary craft and design.